We are thrilled to welcome Michael Torres to the Aillio LATAM family as a regional ambassador. Born in the coffee-rich mountains of Manizales, Colombia, and now based in Chile, Michael brings a powerful blend of competitive excellence, educational leadership, and a deep commitment to community.

Michael began his coffee journey nine years ago in Chile, working at Juan Valdez and entering his first barista competition, a turning point that sparked his passion for specialty coffee. Since 2018, he has competed in multiple national tournaments, earning recognition across ANAPAC and ExpoCafé Chile events. His recent victories include first place in the 2024 Chilean Brewers Cup and second place in 2022, alongside a bronze medal in the 2023 Barista Championship.

What drew Michael to Aillio was our shared belief in accessible innovation. “The Bullet represents a revolution in roasting,” he says. “It offers high-performance control in a compact, affordable format. That’s exactly what our region needs, tools that empower baristas, producers, and small roasters without requiring massive investment.”

Through the Bullet, Michael sees the possibility to professionalize roasting at origin, allowing users across Latin America to experiment, learn, and build sustainable projects with intention and precision.

But beyond technology, Michael’s vision centers on people. “Coffee is both science and community. You can master roast curves and sensory analysis, but if you don’t build human connections, with producers, clients, and peers, you’re missing something essential.”

As an Aillio ambassador, Michael aims to create spaces for training, exchange, and visibility, especially for those working seriously but lacking access or support. His goal is to decentralize opportunity in Chile, bring recognition to valuable work happening outside Santiago, and help shape a more inclusive, technically strong, and connected coffee ecosystem.

We’re honored to have him onboard, and excited to start building what’s next, together.

Welcome, Michael.